Final Module 3 The Language of Mathematics

BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
MMW 101
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Module 3
The Language of Mathematics
“Achieving Universal Understanding and
Peace Through the Language of
Mathematics”
29
The Language of Mathematics

Objectives of the Module
At the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. identify and use mathematical symbols correctly, and
2. translate English expressions/sentences to mathematical
expressions/sentences and vice-versa.
Have you gone to a place where the people speak a different language or
dialect? How would you communicate with them? Would you use sign language? We
need language to communicate with others. It helps us express our ideas and relate
to what other people think. Whatever the language is, that language bridges the gap
between and among individuals. Sign language makes use of the movements of the
hands, the head, and other parts of the body while the letters of the alphabet are used
to form words in conveying ideas. In mathematics, numerals and other symbols are
used to express mathematical ideas. Mathematics as a language makes things clearer
and easier to understand. Long sentences or phrases can be translated into
mathematical sentences or expressions. An expression like “the sum of the squares
of two numbers decreased by four” can simply be written as 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 4. With the help
of mathematical language, patterns are discovered, problems are solved, and new
discoveries are made to benefit mankind.
The language of mathematics was designed so that we can write about things
(like numbers, sets, …) and what we do with those things (add, subtract, multiply,
divide, …).
1. Mathematical Symbols and Conventions in the Language
Symbols
Mathematics uses symbols instead of words.

There are ten digits. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
There are symbols for operations. +, −,×,/, …
Symbols that "stand-in" for values a, b, c, …
Relation/special symbols =, <, ≤, 𝜋, …
Grouping symbols ( ), [ ], and { }
Other symbols Σ the sum of
∃ there exists
∀ for every (for any)
∞ infinity
Note: You may come across some other symbols as you travel through the learning
roadmap of this module.
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LETTER CONVENTIONS
Examples What they usually mean
Start of the alphabet a, b, c, … Constants (with fixed values)
From i to n i, j, k, l, m, n Positive integers (for counting)
End of the alphabet …, x, y, z Variables (unknowns)
Note: These are not rules, but they are often used that way.
UPPERCASE vs. lower case
It is also common to use

• Lowercase for variables (like x or y) or counting values (like m or n) and
• UPPERCASE for sets (like X or Y) and formulas.
2. The English Language and the Language of Mathematics

Do you know that there is a connection between the English language and the
language of Mathematics?
Let's see how the language of mathematics and the English language are
similar. The table that follows shows how.
Language of
English Language Examples
Mathematics
Nouns (objects, fixed things) Numbers 1
15, , 42
2
Connectives/associations Operational symbols/ +, −,∗ ,÷, 2(𝑥 2 − 6𝑦)
grouping symbols
Verbs (to show comparison) Relation symbols =, <, >
Pronouns Variables (letters 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧
representing quantities)
Expression vs. Sentence in the Language of Mathematics
A mathematical expression is an expression with a correct arrangement of

mathematical symbols but does not express a complete thought while a mathematical
sentence is one that expresses a complete thought. In a mathematical sentence, it
makes sense to ask if the sentence is TRUE or FALSE.
Mathematical Expressions Mathematical Sentences
Examples: Examples:
18 6 + 3 = √81 TRUE
-22 20 ÷ 5 > 4 FALSE
52 (10 − 7) + 11 5x – 2y = -8, if x = -3 and y = 4. FALSE
3𝑥 7∈ 𝑁 TRUE
(6𝑥 2 − 𝑧)3
𝑦
31
Translating English Expressions to Mathematical Expressions
Knowing how to translate English expressions to mathematical expressions is

essential in problem-solving. The first step in any problem-solving situation in
mathematics is always to read and understand the problem. Translating the words
into mathematical symbols is next.
The following information may help you.
A. The symbol of operations and relations with their corresponding meanings
Symbol Meanings
plus, sum, total, increased by, more, more than, add, added
+ to, added by, added with, in addition to, combined with, put
together, augmented
minus, less, less than, difference, decreased by, diminished
- by, subtracted from, subtracted by, exceeds by, lowered by,
reduced by, loss, fewer, exceeds
· (raised dot) or times, the product of, multiplied by, multiplied to, multiplied
any grouping symbol with, twice, doubled, thrice, tripled, squared, cubed
÷ ratio, quotient, divided by, half of, average, per, over, all over
= equals, is equal to, is the same as, is similar to, results in,
produces, represents, is equivalent to, is, are, was, were, will
be
Note: The operation between letters or between a number and a letter is understood
to be multiplication.
Let us continue our translation.

Any variable can be used to represent an unknown number. But for the sake of
uniformity, let
x be the 1st unknown number,
y be the 2nd unknown number, and
z be the 3rd unknown number.
Mathematical
English Expression/Sentence
Expression/Sentence
the sum of a number and seventeen 𝒙 + 𝟏𝟕
twenty added to a certain number 𝒙 + 𝟐𝟎
a number augmented by 3 𝒙+𝟑
the difference of a number and ten 𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎
ten less than a number 𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎
ten subtracted from a number 𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎
a number less than 10 𝟏𝟎 − 𝒙
seven less than the product of a number and six 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟕
twice a number 𝟐𝒙
cube of a number 𝒙𝟑
32
the product of a number and four increased by 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟗

nine
the product of eight and a number less five times a 𝟖𝒙 − 𝟓𝒚
second number
the product of eight and a number less than five
times a second number 𝟓𝒚 − 𝟖𝒙
The ratio of a number and nine 𝒙

𝒙÷𝟗 ;
𝟗
𝒙
The quotient of a number and twelve 𝒙 ÷ 𝟏𝟐 ;
𝟏𝟐
𝟑
The ratio of 3, and six decreased by a number
𝟔−𝒙
𝟏 𝒙
𝟏 𝒙
The quotient of half a number and eleven 𝒙 ÷ 𝟏𝟏 or 𝟐
or 𝟐
𝟐 𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟏
The average of three numbers 𝒙+𝒚+𝒛

𝟑
The sum of a number and its reciprocal is 1. 𝟏
𝒙+ =𝟏
𝒙
Thrice the difference of a number and four equals
twenty-four. 𝟑(𝒙 − 𝟒) = 𝟐𝟒
The sum of two numbers over a third number is 𝒙+𝒚

= 𝟏𝟎
the same as ten. 𝒛
The ratio of four more than twice a number, and 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒

=𝟐
thrice the same number is two. 𝟑𝒙
The sum of the squares of two numbers 𝒙 𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐
The square of the sum of two numbers (𝒙 + 𝒚)𝟐
The cube of a number decreased by the square of 𝒙 𝟑 − 𝒚𝟐
another number
The ratio of the cube of a number and six, less the 𝒙𝟑
square of another number − 𝒚𝟐
𝟔
B. Other Useful Translations
1. Representation of the statement "The sum of two numbers is 12."
One unknown Two unknowns

x = the first number x = first number
12 - x = the second number y = second number
33
2. Representation of consecutive integers
Consecutive Integers Consecutive

Odd/Even Integers
x = first integer x = first integer
x+1 = second integer x+2 = second integer
x+2 = third integer x+4 = third integer
and so forth and so forth
3. Representation of ages
The following phrases simply mean the subtraction of the past number
of years from the present age:
years ago
years back
was at that time
during or in the last ___ years
The following phrases mean the addition of the future number of years
to the present age:
years from now

years hence
years after or in __ more years
Present Age Past Age Future Age

Carlo’s age now Carlo's age ten years Carlo's age three
ago years from now
x x – 10 x +3
Bernard’s age now Bernard’s age 5 Bernard's age 8
years back years hence
x x-5 x +8
4. Representation of a two-digit and a three-digit number
Let h = first digit or hundreds digit,

t = second digit or tens digit, and
u = third digit or unit digit.
For a 2-digit number For a 3-digit number

t +u = sum of the digits h+ t + u = sum of the digits
10t + u = the number 100h + 10t + u = the number
10u + t = the number in 100u + 10t + h = the number in
reverse reverse
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References
Nocon, R. & Nocon, E. (2018). Essential Mathematics for the Modern Word. C & E
Publishing, Inc.
Baltazar, E., Ragasa, C., & Evangelista, J. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World.
Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc.

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BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY

The Language of Mathematics

1. Mathematical Symbols and Conventions in the Language

Mathematics uses symbols instead of words.

It is also common to use

2. The English Language and the Language of Mathematics

Expression vs. Sentence in the Language of Mathematics

A mathematical expression is an expression with a correct arrangement of

Mathematical Expressions Mathematical Sentences

Translating English Expressions to Mathematical Expressions

Knowing how to translate English expressions to mathematical expressions is

The following information may help you.

A. The symbol of operations and relations with their corresponding meanings

Let us continue our translation.

the product of a number and four increased by 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟗

The ratio of a number and nine 𝒙

The average of three numbers 𝒙+𝒚+𝒛

The sum of two numbers over a third number is 𝒙+𝒚

The ratio of four more than twice a number, and 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒

B. Other Useful Translations

1. Representation of the statement "The sum of two numbers is 12."

One unknown Two unknowns

2. Representation of consecutive integers

Consecutive Integers Consecutive

years from now

Present Age Past Age Future Age

4. Representation of a two-digit and a three-digit number

Let h = first digit or hundreds digit,

For a 2-digit number For a 3-digit number

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